unForgivable (An inCapable World Novel Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

recover from.
    “You can talk to me from there,” I say.
    Russell opens his mouth to speak but Connor taps Russell’s chest with an open hand and shuts him up. “Look, we’ve got some news. The kind of news you don’t want while staring at us through a half-open door. You understand?”
    “Give me a minute.” I shut the door and grab my old white robe from the back of the bathroom door. After wrapping it around me and tying it shut, I open the door while taking a deep breath to prepare myself for the worst. But nothing can prepare me, because I know in my gut what’s coming and I’m not ready for it. I want them to tell me Mona fucked up and she’s in jail…or on the run. It’s funny how the thought of losing her makes me wish for her criminality. I just want her to be okay. I’m not ready to be alone any time soon.
    I wave for them to come inside and they file in, Russell first. I don’t have much space in my apartment and my endless supply of clothes is littered around my bachelor. I pad forward, grabbing armloads of clothes from the couch and tossing them behind it.
    “Wow,” Russell says, scanning the mess.
    “Maid’s day off,” I say.
    “I’m not going to beat around the bush, here,” Connor says. “This kind of news is hard to deliver and even harder—I’m sure—to hear. So I’m going to go right ahead and say it. Last night your Aunt Mona was shot. She was taken to Sterling General Hospital but…I’m afraid she died en route.”
    The room goes silent and I reach for the chair behind me to sit down. I don’t feel anything at first; it’s like my whole body has shut down. It hurts to breathe, hurts to think…it just plain hurts. And I feel like I might be sick.
    “Oh, God.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. For all intents and purposes, Mona has been my mother all these years. After hyperventilating for a minute, I whisper, “Are you sure?”
    “‘Fraid so, kid,” Russell says.
    Connor walks around the room, eyeing my bookshelf, and fingers through some books and papers. I don’t have the strength to chastise him or kick him out. All I can focus on is this building tension in my gut and my chest, like I can’t get enough air because I’m so constricted. Mona. Dead. This can’t be happening. It just can’t.
    “We won’t always be around to take care of you,” she said. Like she knew her days were numbered. How could she possibly know?
    Russell clears his throat and approaches me, tentatively laying his hand on my shoulder. “Is there someone we can call for you?”
    “Does my Uncle Mickey know?”
    When I look up at Russell, he shakes his head and his face softens. He bends down so we’re eye level. His voice is soft, comforting. “We’ve been trying to locate him but so far have been unsuccessful.” Russell pauses a beat before adding, “Do you have any idea where he might be?”
    “No.” And I wouldn’t tell you if I knew. “He’s not answering his phone.”
    “I see,” Russell says.
    “Who did this to her?” I ask. I bat away tears and try to control my breathing but I’m not sure that’s possible right now. I assume it was Sam Tanner who’s done this to Mona, but I’m not about to throw out his name. That’s not smart when you’re talking to cops. The fewer details you give them, the better.
    “We can’t go into the details right now, ma’am,” Connor says.
    “You can’t go into details?” My voice grows stronger, louder. “Are you kidding me? My aunt is dead and you can’t tell me who’s responsible?”
    “The man who shot her was also killed,” he says, as if that makes this situation any better.
    I narrow my eyes, confused. What aren’t they telling me?
    “ Declan ,” I say quietly. “Mona practically raised him. Oh my God, I need to call Declan.”
    I attempt to rise and Russell puts out his hands to gently push me back down. I don’t like the look on his face and am afraid he has more bad news. Just what the hell